A Letter from the Director of Unity & Diversity

Dear New Families,

Welcome to Wheeler! I write to introduce myself as Director of Unity & Diversity at The Wheeler School and to offer you a warm welcome to our community.

At Wheeler, celebrating diversity is at the core of what we do, and as such, we reserve multiple opportunities across the school year to celebrate the rich diversity within our own community. A sampling of events from last year is listed below, as is a description of the office’s purpose.

Please feel free to call or email me with any questions you might have about Wheeler. In addition to my professional role, I was a parent at Wheeler for 16 years and was a Trustee for 6 years, so I am happy to be of service in any way I can as you join us.

As I embark upon my ninth year leading Wheeler’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, I eagerly look forward to getting to know your children and working with all of you in the years ahead.

All my best wishes to your family for a wonderful and safe remainder of the summer!

Princess

Woman smiles with hand on chin
Princess Sirleaf Bomba, Director of Unity & Diversity

Sampling of Unity & Diversity Events and Programs

Opportunities for All Students/All School Community Events

  • Welcome Barbecue for Families with Children of Color (September)
  • LGBTQ+ Family Planning and Dinner Meeting (September)
  • Multi-Cultural Performance Showcase (November)
  • SICA Potluck Dinner and Community Spirit Award Program (February)
  • Wheeler Diversity Conference (May)
  • End of Year Celebration for LGBTQ+ Families (June)
  • End of Year Celebration for Families with Children of Color (June)
  • Diversity Committee Meetings (Monthly)
  • Adoption Parents Coffee Drop-in (Monthly)
  • LGBTQ+ Parents/Guardians Coffee Drop-in (Monthly)
  • Coffee, Cupcakes, and Conversation- Parent/Guardian Diversity Discussion groups (Quarterly)

School Groups and Division Events (LS – Lower School, MS – Middle School, US – Upper School)

  • SICA (Students Involved in Cultural Awareness)(Meets regularly; MS, US)
  • QSA (Queer/Straight Alliance) (Meets regularly; MS, US)
  • Students of Color Mentor Program (Pairs meet weekly; LS, MS, US)
  • SSP College Visits and Financial Aid Information Sessions
  • Affinity Groups (Meet regularly; US, MS, LS)
  • Unity & Diversity Day (LS, MS, US)
  • NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (US)
  • GLSEN Conference (US)
  • AISNE High School Students of Color Conference (US)
  • Ally Week (US)
  • AISNE Middle School Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Conference (MS)
  • AISNE Middle School Students of Color Conference (MS)
  • Language, cultural, and immigration studies (LS)

Opportunities/Events for Faculty and Staff

  • WAICA (Wheeler Adults Involved in Cultural Awareness) (Meets Regularly)
  • AISNE Diversity Conference
  • NAIS People of Color Conference
  • White Privilege Conference

The Office of Unity & Diversity at Wheeler

The Office of Unity & Diversity develops programs, initiatives, and curriculum across all divisions and provides ample opportunities for candid dialogue which will further strengthen unity within our diversity through the lens of social justice.

The office was established in 2002 to support the ongoing efforts undertaken by Wheeler to incorporate a multicultural community in order to enhance academic excellence. The office provides resources to the Wheeler community in developing and maintaining inclusive and equitable practices.

The office is comprised of a director, four divisional U&D Coordinators, and a Student Support Coordinator to support underrepresented students in their college search and post-graduate success.

Our philosophy on diversity is grounded in the recognition that our school exists in a community, state, country, and world represented by a multitude of cultures and viewpoints. Diversity and multiculturalism, therefore, imbue all that we do. From academic programs to athletic programs, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, Wheeler endeavors to create an environment that includes people and viewpoints from a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and ways of life.

As an N-12 community, the Unity & Diversity curriculum at Wheeler is developed with individual grade and age-appropriate information and approaches to the core concept of recognizing, discussing, and having respect for all socially significant identities (age, gender, gender identity, race, ability, sexual orientation, economic status, or religion)

Additionally, faculty and staff engage in ongoing professional development opportunities in the area of multicultural teaching and learning, and in cultivating and maintaining a multicultural community. This approach has produced a creative environment that is committed to developing and sustaining a truly equitable and inclusive community that celebrates differences.

Some of the non-academic programs which support our institutional initiatives are events such as: the Multi-Cultural Performance Showcase; Students of Color Mentor Program; Faculty of Color Mentoring Program; Coffee, Cupcakes and Conversation; Wheeler Adults Interested in Cultural Awareness; and multiple social events for families with adopted children, LGBTQ families, and families with children of color.